Luminous ball



I Nov. 12, 1935.

C. T. TURNER LUMINOUS B Filed May 25, 1954 6 mvsn'rofi: Clinton 2." Turn I f I A M6 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 12, 1935 V UNITED STATSApplication May 25, 1934, Serial No. 727,543 In Canada June 15, 1933 4Claims.

This invention relates to a luminous ball and in particular to a ballfrom which light is radiated.

Generally speaking, the purpose of the invention is to provide a ballwith which games can be played at night. It is a well known fact thatball games cannot normally be played after dusk in the evenings due toones inability to follow the path of travel of the sphere, and for thisreason games of this character must cease with daylight. To overcomethis difficulty, I have developed a novel and unique means of embodyingwithin a ball; whether it be a hand-ball, tennisball, foot-ball, orotherwise, means for radiating illumination. Thus a ball may be readilyobserved at night and play permitted to extend into the darker hours ofthe evening.

One of the objects of the invention, therefore,

rial or form it with conducting passages through which light isradiated.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a ball of thischaracter in which a source of energy may be attached to the ballthrough extension elastic means and thus provide what may be termed aluminous return ball.

Having regard to the foregoing and other objects and advantages whichwill become apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consistsessentially in the novel combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described in detail and set forth in the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1.is an elevational View of an embodiment of myimproved ball.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through the center of the ball,disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail of a mounting for a light means within the ballwhich includes a circuit.

Figure 4 are details of the battery retaining means together withlocking key.

7 Figure 5 is a View, partly in section, of an embodiment of myinvention which shows a ball constructed in separable sections.

Figure 6 illustrates the details of the lightsupporting core or socketsupplied in the sectional ball in Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a view, partly in section, of a luminous return ball havinga source of energy connected thereto through flexible extension means.,5

Referring now to the drawing in which my improved ball is disclosed, andwherein like letters and numerals of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several illustrations, the letter A designates the ball asa whole which may be 10 a hand-ball, tennis-ball, etc., while the letterB indicates the light retaining medium.

In general form, the ball is spherical and is composed of suitableflexible materials such as rubber or rubber provided with suitableprotective covering, or of translucent rubber" The shell of the ballitself may be constructed of a single piece as illustrated in Figs. 1and 7, or 'sectionally formed, as illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring now to the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1, this comprises aspherical shell or casing It of flexible material within the center ofwhich is mounted a core or bracket M. This core or bracket is designedto resiliently support therein illuminating means in the form of anelectric bulb or other similar means from which rays of light areradiated. The'mounting of the light -means'may take several practicalforms, and in the present instance I have illustrated the lightsupporting Socket 5 2 as being suspended centrally of the member it bymeans of a series of springs I l, thus, when the ball is jarred eitherby being thrown by hand, bounced, or struck by an object, the lampproperties will not be destroyed by the jolt or repercussion. One meansfor conducting light rays to the exterior of the ball is efiected byconstructing the ball with a plurality of passage- .ways I5, whichcommunicate with the center of the ball and light source and theexterior of the ball. The number of passageways will, of course, begoverned by the result desired.

To prevent dirt or other foreign matter or substances from entering thepassages IS, the outer ends thereof may be covered with translucentrubber, as indicated at It, or a translucent insert such as celluloid,which would be imbedded at and in the periphery of the ball. Suchprotective transparent or translucent covering for the passageways maybe of various colors which would I thus lend a novel and attractiveappearance to the ball.

A source of energy for the illuminating means B may take several forms,and in the present instance I have indicated such source in the form ofa series of dry batteries ll inserted in apertures or recesses l8 andheld therewithin by means of a flexible plug l9. The battery and theplug in the present instance are illustrated as of oval formation, andsuch formation not only prevents axial movement of the battery butprovides cam-like means for the plug for locking the battery within thesphere. The looking or camlike means referred to comprise a disc memberpivotally mounted as at 2|, when in position, in the recess 22, thelocking of the cam is effected by key member 23 which is insertable inthe slot or passageway 24 of the plug [9. a

Energy for the bulb B is provided through the series of batteries I! aspreviously referred to. When inserted in its aperture or recess, oneterminal of the battery contacts with the upper portion 25 of the coreor bracket II which is insu-' lated, as at 26, from the lower portion21, the lower portion contacting with the opposed terminal of thebattery. Thus, the current may flow from the battery to the upper ring25, through supporting spring l4, and bulb, and then, by way of theinsulated socket 28 and conductor 29, to the lower ring 21 and battery,which completes the circuit. Preferably, the batteries are arranged inparallel and in this manner lessen the drain of energy therefrom.

Any convenient form of switch means may be employed for switching offand on the current and I have illustrated a switch 30 associated withthe member 2'! and conductor 29 which may be operable by a suitable keyinserted in key-way or orifice 3|. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)

As previously mentioned, the ball disclosed in Figure 5 is formed inseparable sections, as indicated at 32 and 33, which, when joined, forma hollow center 34 and, as illustrated, the section 32 is provided withan annular tongue 35 which engages the annular groove 36 in the section33. Means for retaining the separable sections in a fixed positioncomprise a flexible band 31 which engages the annular recess 38 formedin the exterior of the sections. The lamp supporting core which isadapted to fit the hollow center 34 is also sectionally formed, andcomprises sections 39 and 40. The interior of the core is highlypolished or mirrored to enable it to strongly reflect light raystherefrom. Means for detachably connecting these sections include aseries of fingers 4| associated with the section 39 which engage theslots 42 in the section 40. Suspended in the center of the member 40,through spring members I4, is a socket retaining member 12.

It is important in the sectionally constructed ball that the lightradiating orifices, not only in the respective outer portions of theball, but the supporting casing therewithin, be in register when theball is assembled. This may be effected by providing the band 31 with aprojection 43 and the outer shell with the projection 44 and thesupporting core with the projection 45. Thus, with these projections,when the ball is assembled, all the light communicating passages willregister with the other. To enable the flexible band 31 to be readilyremoved, I provide the sides thereof with indentations or the like 46.

In the illustration shown in Figure '7, the source of energy, a battery41 in miniature form, may either be carried in the pocket or strapped tothe wrist, and the conductors therefrom exten-d through the elasticextension member 48 to the light means B, thus the operator of the ballmay retain one end of the extension indicated at in the hand, and theball in luminous form may be bounced as is done with what is termed areturn ball. It will also be understood that this particular type ofball may be constructed of semi-transparent or translucent material of aflexible nature and colored in various shades.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have developed a novel,practical and unique ball which may be clearly observable when in playat night, and one that will withstand severe jarring.

It will be understood also that many changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement and many apparently widely differentembodiments constructed within the scope of the claims without departingfrom the spirit thereof; it is intended, therefore, that theaccompanying matter be interpreted as illustrative rather than in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. A ball of the character described comprising a flexible shell orcasing, a supporting member mounted within the casing, a source ofillumination resiliently carried by the supporting means, means forsupplying energy to the source of illumination and means for reflectinglight rays from the source of illumination to the exterior of the ball.

2. A ballof the character described comprising a flexible casing'orshell formed with a hollow core, a member resiliently supportingillumination means in the core, means for supplying energy to the sourceof illumination, locking means for detachably connecting the energymeans in the casing, and means for communicating light rays from thesource of illumination to the exterior of the ball.

3. A ball of the character described comprising a flexible shell orcasing formed with a series of light communicating passages, a source ofillumination resiliently supported within the casing, a plurality ofmeans for supplying energy to the source of illumination, means fordetachably retaining the energy means in the casing and operable switchmeans for controlling the flow of energy to the illuminating means.

4. A ball of the character described comprising a flexible shell orcasing formed in separable sections, a source of illumination mountedwithin the casing, means for resiliently supporting the source ofillumination, flexible band means for retaining the separable sectionsin position, and means for conducting light rays from the source ofillumination to the exterior of the ball.

CLINTON T. TURNER.

